Sock with gaiter integrally formed

ABSTRACT

Sock and gaiter knitted integrally in a single garment. The sock comprises a legging ( 1 ) and a foot of the sock ( 3 ). Coupled to the sock, there is a gaiter ( 2 ) along the sock circular section, between said legging ( 1 ) and said foot ( 3 ). 
     Through the inherent elasticity of the sock ( 1, 3 ) and of the gaiter ( 2 ), namely in its circular section union, one can get an adaptable piece and able to keep in proper position to prevent the entry of foreign bodies or liquids, namely water, earth or sand, to the inside of the shoe, even under conditions of high effort and movement by the user. One can include adjusting means ( 4 ). 
     This type of elastic adjustment, which prevents movements better than existing protections by being coupled to the legging ( 1 ) of the sock, allows superior sealing and maintains the comfort and safety of its user.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sock and a gaiter integrated into a single garment.

BACKGROUND

A gaiter is a tubular element of substantially circular section used as garment in the foot and/or leg coverage of its user. A gaiter designed to cover the upper part of the shoe is also commonly referred to as polainito, the terms being considered equivalent in the scope of this document.

The term in English, gaiter, is also commonly used. This type of device aims to protect the entry of foreign bodies or liquids, namely water, earth or sand, into the shoes of its user. Is known that the entry of this type of elements causes, particularly in situations of special effort like a sports race or prolonged hiking, frictions and wear on the foot, which leads to special discomfort and even may cause wounds and ulcerations.

The document DE10226283 presents a gaiter for use in the ankle and leg that aims to protect the entry of foreign bodies or liquids, including water, soil or sand into the shoes of its user.

The document EP0852916 presents a gaiter for use in the ankle and leg, also aiming to prevent the entry of bodies or liquids into the shoe. It has the particularity of including coupling means that allow securing the gaiter around the sole of the shoe of its user, in order to prevent the gaiter to move, namely upward along the leg, which would allow the entry of said bodies or liquids.

The document KR20100095331A presents a functional hermetic sock for use on the outer side of ordinary sock, being the functional socks with the hermetic function and waterproof comprise a main body of the sock including a foot input unit, a single foot unit (60), a foot unit of the instep, a heel unit, a unit of the toe and an ankle unit. The main body of the sock is formed by molding a flexible material selected within the group consisting of synthetic resin, vinyl, rubber, and silicon.

The document JP2008006235A describes a raincoat for the foot that prevents feet from getting wet with the rain, which is prevented by said cover to act as an umbrella for the foot. This rain cover is formed by a waterproof material and has a vinyl shape slightly larger than a sock, having an insert part with a foot sheath with a pouch cord passed there through, the sheath being extensible and contractible by use of a cord, and being that the insertion part of the foot is freely effected by opening/closing sheath with cord. The clasp of the sheath with the cord allows obtaining a pouch after use, easing storage and transport. A strap with hooks and loop clasps (Velcro type) is provided in a middle portion of the sock and another belt with the hooks and loops complementary locking is placed in the lower part of the sock. The vinyl material between the two belts is very broad and it is possible to be compressed by hook and loop clasps on said belts. This foot raincoat can be used with a shoe.

The product Inov-8 Debris Sock Coolmax Gaiter identified in http://www.gearzone.com/Inov-8-Debris-Sock-Coolmax-Gaiter-p/232-14102.htm consists of a sock and gaiter integrated into a single garment, but in which the two pieces are obtained by sewing two pieces, two previously formed elements. The two pieces are sewn together in two operations, one vertical along the sock, and other circular around the cuff.

The said previous embodiments have shortcomings namely with respect to elastic adjustment, and with respect to the movements between the foot and the protection of the foot.

Are particular targets of the present embodiments obtaining a superior sealing, preserving the comfort and security of its user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Describes a sock and gaiter integrated into a single garment. A sock usually comprises a legging of the sock and a foot of the sock.

In the present embodiments, coupled to the sock, lies a gaiter, along the sock circular section, between said gaiter and said foot of the sock, being the sock and gaiter integrally formed in a single garment, in particular integrally formed in a single garment by knitting.

This gaiter should have enough circular cross-section to be able to countersink until covering the shoes of the user.

Through the inherent elasticity of the sock and gaiter, namely in the elasticity of its circular section union, one can obtain a piece especially adaptable and able to keep in proper position to prevent the entry of foreign bodies or liquids, namely water, earth or sand to the inside shoe of its user, even under conditions of high effort and movement by the user. As usually liquid or foreign bodies originate from the soil, this type of elastic adjustment, which avoids vertical movement while being coupled to legging, allows a superior sealing and preserves the comfort of its user. These effects are particularly enhanced the sock and gaiter being integrally formed in a single garment, in particular if integrally formed in a single garment by knitting.

The capacity of the gaiter going down or up (FIG. 1) is particularly convenient. In the lowered position, protects the entry of said bodies or liquids. In the raised position, allows to place or take the shoes, allows to avoid contamination by soiling meantime accumulated that thus is retained, allows a larger breath of the shoes.

This way, the user obtains a piece with a superior performance to traditional gaiters, at the same time that it obtains a more practical piece and of more flexible use.

In one embodiment, the gaiter includes gripping means which allow narrowing the circular section of its extreme, so as to achieve an even better fit.

In one embodiment, the gaiter includes an elastic cord in its circular section, at its far, so as to achieve an even better fit.

In one embodiment, the gaiter comprises two coupling means placed substantially opposites on the circular section of its extreme, substantially on opposite sides of the shoes, for coupling with each other, under the sole so as to achieve an even better fit. In particular, one can use springs or metal hooks. In alternative, the two coupling means can engage the shoes itself, especially, if the shoes itself provide elements complementary to this coupling, in particular molded on the side of the shoes sole. In a particular embodiment, these coupling means are joined to the gaiter by said gripping means, in particular a cord at the end of the circular section of gaiter.

The length of the legging may be variable, as to the knee, thigh, or even pantyhose, for reasons of comfort or depending on the intended use.

The length of the gaiter may also be variable, provided that it permits adequate protection for the entry of materials and fluids in the shoe.

The joints between materials of the sock/gaiter/coupling means may be obtained by sewing, knitting, gluing, Velcro coupling, among others.

In one embodiment, the sock and gaiter are integrally formed already joined together in a single piece, in particular through molding.

In one embodiment, the sock and gaiter are integrally formed from the same piece (see ex. on FIG. 5) to later the circular part being joined along a circular section so as to define the parts of the piece sock and gaiter. The union of the circular piece, previously integrally formed, can be obtained by sewing, knitting, gluing, Velcro coupling, among others.

In one embodiment, the sock and gaiter are integrally formed from the same circular piece by knitting, i.e., seamless.

In one embodiment, the sock and gaiter are integrally formed from the same circular piece by knitting, being that textile materials used in knitting are alternated so as to obtain differentiated materials for legging, gaiter and/or foot of the garment, which has the advantage to adapt itself to the garment to different uses or purposes, according to the material chosen for each part, e.g. using tougher wires or more elastic according to the party concerned.

In one embodiment, the sock and gaiter are integrally formed from the same circular piece by knitting, so that the knitting of gaiter is tighter than that of the legging or foot, that is, the intervals of the knitted mesh are smaller. This has as advantage to prevent the entry of foreign bodies on the gaiter, e.g. grains of sand, smaller than the interval of the knitted mesh of the legging or foot, while allowing greater comfort and breath of the legging or foot through the wider mesh, and therefore more flexible.

In one embodiment, the gaiter or the gaiter and sock are waterproofed fabric, in particular by adding water repellents, e.g. silicones.

In one embodiment, the gaiter when raised, can be used to collect objects, in a pocket function. It can contain cooling elements, such as gel packs or cooled liquid, especially useful after intense physical effort to prevent injury and accelerate physical recovery. It may contain electronic devices, such as biosensors, processing devices for biometric data, or even a mobile phone.

The materials that can be used on legging, gaiter and/or foot include: Cotton, Organic Cotton, Wool, Silk, Polyamide, Polyester, Milk Fiber, Soy Proteinaceous Fiber, Seacell®—cellulosic fiber obtained from algae, Bamboo, Nettle fiber, Maize fiber—PLA, Trevira Bioactive®—polyethylene terephthalate, Dri Releaser—mixture of 85-90% hydrophobic material/synthetic and 10-15% natural/hydrophilic material, Coolmax®—polyester fibers with recesses along the fibers in tetrachannel configurations or hexachannel, Cocona®—fiber as from activated carbon from coconut shells, DreamFel®—polypropylene, Viloft®—rayon, regenerated cellulose fiber, Crabyon®—Chitin/Chitosan, Amicor®—fiber with functional compounds in its interior Meryl Fibre®—polynosique, viscose fibers, TACTEL Fibre®—light nylon fiber, X-Static®—fiber incorporating silver.

The sock can be of textile, woven or non-woven, in particular knitted or sewn by segments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For an easier understanding of the invention the attached figures are joined, which represent preferred embodiments of the invention which, however, are not intended to limit the subject of this invention.

FIG. 1—representation of the legging (1) and foot (3) of the sock, of the gaiter (2) and its adjusting means (4), either up or down position.

FIG. 2—representation of the legging (1) and foot (3) of the sock, of the gaiter (2) and its adjusting means either in open position (4 a) or in the adjusted position (4 b).

FIG. 3—representation of the legging (1) of the sock, of the gaiter (2) and means of adjustment (4), either in one embodiment without the foot or in one embodiment with foot of the sock (3).

FIG. 4—representation of the legging (1) and foot (3) of the sock, of the gaiter (2) and its adjusting means (4), in two embodiments which illustrate various lengths of the sock legging (1), namely an embodiment without sock legging (1).

FIG. 5—representation of the legging (1) and foot of the sock (3), of the gaiter (2) integrally formed.

FIG. 6—representation of the legging (1) and foot of the sock (3), of the gaiter (2) and its adjusting means (4), and shoes (5), either on down or up position of the gaiter (2).

The following dependent claims define preferred embodiments of the present invention. The described embodiments are combined with each other. 

1. A sock comprising gaiter being sock and gaiter integrally formed, characterized wherein the sock and gaiter are integrally formed as from a single piece of circular section, to join with each other two circular sections of said piece forming the gaiter from the portion of material between said two circular sections.
 2. The sock according to claim 1 which comprises legging of the sock and a foot of said sock and wherein the gaiter is coupled along the circular section of the sock, between said legging and said foot of the sock.
 3. The sock according to claim 1 which comprises gripping means to tighten the circular section of the end of the sock.
 4. The sock according to claim 3, wherein the gripping means are one elastic cord along its circular section at the end of the sock.
 5. The sock according to claim 1 which comprises two coupling means placed substantially opposite on the circular section of the end of the sock, to substantially opposite sides of the shoe, for coupling beneath the sole of the shoe or for coupling the shoe, in particular springs or hooks, in particular metal.
 6. The sock according to claim 1 wherein the gaiter or gaiter and sock are waterproof fabric.
 7. The sock according to claim 1 wherein the gaiter and sock comprises, along the length, sections in different textile materials, finishings or structure.
 8. The sock according to claim 7, wherein the gaiter and sock are knitted and the knitting mesh of the gaiter is tighter than the sock mesh.
 9. The sock according to claim 1 which comprises Cotton, Organic Cotton, Wool, Silk, Polyamide, Polyester, Milk Fiber, Soy Proteinaceous Fiber, Algae fiber, bamboo, Nettle fiber, Maize fiber—PLA, polyethylene terephthalate, fiber mixing of hydrophobic material/synthetic and natural material/hydrophilic, polyester fiber with recesses along the fiber, activated carbon fiber as from coconut shells, polypropylene fiber, regenerated cellulose fiber, Chitin/Chitosan fiber, fiber with functional compounds inside, viscose fiber, light nylon fiber, Fiber incorporating silver and/or combinations thereof.
 10. A method for manufacturing a sock with integrated gaiter which comprises forming the sock and gaiter from a piece of the substantially circular section, characterized by joining with each other two circular sections of said piece forming the gaiter from the portion of material between said two circular sections.
 11. The method according to claim 10 in which the union is obtained by sewing, gluing, coupling by hook and loop clasp, and/or knitting.
 12. The method according to claim 10 in which the piece of the substantially circular section is obtained by knitting.
 13. The method according to claim 12 in which the knitting mesh in the gaiter part is tighter than the knitting mesh in the part of the sock.
 14. The method according to claim 10 which comprises adding waterproofing agents to part of the piece of circular section which corresponds to the gaiter, before or after said coupling. 